Mike Nixon
- School
- Arizona State University
- Position
- Linebacker
- Major
- Political Science
Classroom
Nixon’s accomplishments extend beyond the football field. A political science major, Nixon has been a Pac-10 first team All-Academic selection and an ESPN The Magazine first team Academic All-District VIII honoree in each of the last two years. He also won the team’s Clyde B. Smith Award for academic achievement in 2008. This season, Nixon has been named to the Lott Trophy Watch List and has been nominated for the 2009 Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.
Character
Nixon, a local product from Phoenix’s Sunnyslope High School, originally chose to pursue baseball after being a third-round selection (91st overall) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2002 MLB Draft. However, after four years in the minor league system, Nixon made the difficult decision to give up baseball and return to college, choosing his hometown school. Showing signs of leadership, Nixon was one of two underclassmen to serve as game captain last season and is a member of ASU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Community
Nixon volunteers as a student-athlete mentor at Harris Elementary School in Mesa, organizing activities and games for the children and meeting with them on a weekly basis. In addition, Nixon is on ASU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and he was recognized as a Sun Devil Star for his community involvement, participation and leadership as an ASU student-athlete.
Competition
Nixon has played in 38 straight games for the Sun Devils over the last three seasons. He has made 19 career starts, with 180 tackles (117 solo), 19.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, five interceptions, 12 pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over the course of his career thus far. Last year, Nixon became one of the top defensive players in the Pacific-10, as he tied for the conference lead with five interceptions and ranked sixth with 90 tackles (a team-leading total). He earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors and was a first-team all-conference selection by PhilSteele.com. He shared ASU’s Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year award with safety Troy Nolan.
